Rheostat



(No Model.)

J. B. ENTRIKIN.

RHEOSTAT,

No. 402,912 Patented May '7, 188?.

/TTEST IPMETOR- lfm/ o@ @mw jm@ ab/@7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH B. ENTRIKIN, OF DES MOINES, IOVA.

RH EOSTAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,912, dated May 7,1889.

Application tiled January 22,1889. Serial No. 297,171. (No model.)

T0 all whom, t may concern:

Beit known that I, JcsErH B. ENTRIKIN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State ofIowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rheostats, ofwhich the following is a specication, reference being had therein to theaccompanying draw- 1n My invention relates to an improvement inapparatus for directing and controlling the strength of an electriccurrent for mechanical purposes.

The object of this invention is to render useful as a motive power thecurrent of electricity passing` through the wires from an incandescentelectrie-light plant and dispense with the use and expense of a batterykept constantly charged; and the invention consists in the particularconstruction and combination of devices that will be more fully setforth hereinafter, and particularly pointed ont in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing is represented, partly in perspective andpartly in section, an electric-current regulator constructed inaccordance with my invention, and connected in circuit with anelectric-light system and a mechanical tool, the latter being'represented by an electric dental mallet.

In said drawing, A represents a jar of suitable size, which is providedwith a lid, l5, and is partly filled with diluted acid solution, C. Toprotect the jar against breakage, it is preferably inclosed in a box,A2, connected to the lid bystraps a?, hinged to said box. The lid B ismade of insulating material-as hard rubber or woodmand has two verticalperforations, I, therein, through which looselyT pass two carbons, D,that are retained parallel to each other, and connected at theirup perends by a horizontal platform, E, of insun lating material. To suspendthe carbons D and their connecting-platform E at the proper height, apost, F, is secured. vertically in the center of the lid and passesthrough the platform E, and the latter is adj ustably connected withsaid post by means of a screw, e, inserted in the edge of said platformand having its point bearing against the post F. Each can bon has itstop provided with a binding-post, f, and screw f2, to secure a wirethereto,

An electric current commonly used with an incandescent electric light,Il?, can be made to pass from the street-wires Il to the wires G G2, andbe regulated by the apparatus above described by connecting said wireswith the posts f of the carbons D; but the main object of this inventionbeing to render said current useful as a regulable motive power forinechanical purposes, the posts I are used. They have binding-screws L'"i2, uniting the wires Il to G G2, and each one is also provided withbinding-screws 7o k2, to connect said posts with the operating-wires LL2 of a mechanical device-as, for example, with an electric dentalmallet, M, of ordinary form. The wires G G2 and L L2 are shown coveredand united together a portion of their length; but it will be wellunderstood that the wires forming a pair are insulated from each other.

In using my invention, if it is desired to have the whole current usedfor operating the dental mallet or other mechanical device, the carbonsare lifted. clear ofi' the solution. The current then passes from one ofthe wires Il to one of the binding-posts I, down the wire L to themallet or other tool, and up the wire L2 to the return-wire Il; but ifit is intended to diminish the strength of the current to be used by themallet, and consequently the strength of the blows given by the latter,the parallel .carbons D are lowered the desired distance into theliquid. The tool acts then as a resistance, and a portion of the currentpasses through the wires G G2 and through the regulating device abovedescribed. A switch, S, is placed upon one of the wires II, todisconnect the tool from the electric light when desired.

Having now fully described my invention, I

IOO

perforations, a central post secured to said Wires connecting it Withsaid posts I, substan- Iid, an insulating-platform adj ustably securedtially as described. I O to said post, two parallel carbons suspended Intestimony WhereofI affix my signature in from said platform and passingthrough the presence of two Witnesses.

perforations in the lid, and binding-posts JOSEPH B. ENTRIKIN. upon saidcarbons, with electric Wires con- Vitnesses: o nected to said carbons,binding-posts I upon R. V. ANKENY,

said wires, a mechanical electric tool, and W'EBB SAUERS.

